Band type can carrier



11, P. c. COLLURA 2,899,104

BAND TYPE CAN CARRIER Filed Dec. 20, 1956 v INVENTOR.

Peter C. CIOZZLLTO/I BY I V'W.

United States Patent BAND CAN CARRIER Peter C. Collura, Waltham, Mass.,assigno'r to Container Corporation of America, Chicago, 111., a"corporation of Delaware Application December '20, 1956, Serial No.6255528 2 Claims. (Cl. 220--."1'1'5) Tl'his invention relates to cancarriers and has to do with-carriers of the open 'ended band type.

Can carriers of the :type referred to are well known and are extensivelyused for transporting chimed 'end cans containing beverages,.comestibles and other "products. Many millions of such carriers areused annually and this is a highly competitive field in which cost ofproduction is an important consideration. =Can carriers of .the typereferred to are commonly formed from sheet material, such as paperboard,and it is of practical importance that the blanks from which thecarriers are :formed 'be such as to avoid waste of material While beingcapable of being folded and glued by machinery at high speed so .as toreduce the :cost of produotion to a minimum. It is also of practicalimportance that ithe carrier be of adequate mechanical strength and thatthe handle structure thereof possess both considerable :r-i-gidity andmechanical strength for supporting the load imposed upon it by the cansin the carrier. :My invention is directed to a carrier whichmeets theabove requirements and is particularly suitable for volume production inhigh speed machinery. Further objects and advantages of my invent-ionwill appear from the detail description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a carrier embodying my .invention inits setup condition ready for loading;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the carrier of Figure 1 in its flat :foldedcondition;

Figure 3 is a plan view, You .a reduced scale, of a blank from which thecarrier of -Figure lis formed;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially on :line'4-'4of Figure l; and

Figure .5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line5-5 'orf Figure 1-.

The carrier shown :in Figures :1 and '2 is formed from the blank shown.in Figure 3, which is cut from suitable sheet material, :such aspaperboard, and is of elongated rectangular or oblong shape in plan, theblank being shown with its innerfaee uppermost. he blanlc of Fig ure 3is suitably cut and scored to provide a glue flap 6 at one end :01 theblank attached along a fold line 7 to the inner edge of a first bottomwall panel -8 to the outer edge of which is attached, along -a fold line'9,-tlre1ower edge of a first side -Wall panel 10 to the upper edge ofwhich is attached, along a fold line 11, the outer edge of a first topwall panel 12. The top'wall panel 12 is attached, along a fold line:1-3, at its inner edge, to a first handle flap 14 attached at its upperedge, along a fold line 15, to the upper edge of a second handle flap 16attached at :its lower edge, along a fold line 17,, to the inner edge ofa second top wall panel 18. The second top wall panel 18 is attached atits outer edge, along .a fold line 1 9, to the upper edge of 'a secondside wall panel .20 attached at its lower edge, along a fold line 21, toa second bottom "wall panel 22 to the inner vedge of wln'ch is attached,along a fold line '23, a center partition panel 24 to the upper edge ofwhich are attached, ad-

, 2,899,104 Patented Aug. 11, 1959 jacent each end thereof, along a foldline 25, end .por-' tion with "outwardly tapering end portions, suchopening 30 extending a slight distance below the fold lines :13 and .17,respectively, i.e., outwardlyof the top wall "panels 12 and 518,respectively. A supporting :flap 3.161s cut from the mid-area 'of theinner portion of eachof the'top panels 12 and 18, this .ilap 31 being ofgenerally flattened V-shape, conforming :generally in outline to thelower portion of opening .30 and -being integrally attached at its endsto the corresponding handle flap at the ends of opening 30 therein. Asecuring tab .32, formed of material cut from the upper portion ofopening 30 in the handle flap 16, is attached to handle flap 116 at theupper edge of opening 30 therein along a field line 33. The width ofsecuring :flap 32 is but slightly less than the width of the upperportion ofthe handle flap 16 betwee'n the fold lines 15 and 33. Zllhe'midportion of center partition panel 24, at the upper end thereof, iscut out to provide "a notch or opening 34 therein exten'ding frorh theupper "edge of panel 24 between the third handle panel portion 26 and ashort distance downward beyond the fold line 25. In the abovedescription of the blank of Figure '3 the elements thereof have beendescribed with reference to the positions which they :occupy in thecompleted carrier, *with a'view to avoiding confusion. The blank is ofsimple oblong form and may readily be cutin the manner above describedwith' but aminimum-of waste material.

:In :order to produce the carrier-10f Figures land 2 from the blank ofFigure :3, suitable adhesive is applied to the inner .surfaces-the uppersurfaces in Figure 3-4of the load supporting flaps 31, "the lowerportions of the handle flaps 14 and 16 adjacent the lower portions of*the openings 30 therein and to the upper portions of the handle flaps'1'4 and 16, above the openings 30; as indicated by the :stippling. Inthat connection, :it will be "noted "that the height of the end portions26 ofthe third handle fiap is considerably less than the .height of thehandle flap 16 and corresponds approximately to the distance betweenfold line 17 and the upper edge of the adhesive coated area adjacenteach end of opening 30 in handle flap T6. A fter adhesive :has beenapplied to the areas of the blank above described, the hut bottom wallpanel 8 is folded about fold line 9 downwardly onto the first side wallpanel 10 and the then upper face of the g'lueflap 6 -is provided with acoating of adhesive. The blank is then folded about fold line 21 so asto dispose the second bottom wall panel 22 in :overlying relation to thelower portion of the second side wall panel 20, with the centerpartition panel 24 disposed ill). overlying relation to the upperportion of panel 120 and the :second top wall panel 18, with the loweredge of TClltOlllUOI notch 34 in register with the upperedge-of loadsupporting flap 31 attached to the handle flap 1-6, the portion of panel24 below notch or opening 34 therein seating :on the :adhesive coatedsurface of load supporting flap 31 and the end portions 26 of the thirdahandle iflap seating on the adhesive coated areas of handle flap 16:adjacent the ends of theopening 30 therein. The partially folded "blankis then folded about the fold line 15, a'fter folding the -securing flap32 over onto the midp'ortiono'f the adhesive coated area at the upperpor-. tion of the handle flap 16, disposing the handle flap 1'6 inoverlying relation to the handle flap 14, with the third I handle flapportions 26 seating on the adhesive coated areas of handle flap 14adjacent the ends of opening 30 therein, the center partition panel 24overlying the first top Wall panel 12 and the upper portion of the firstside wall panel and the adhesive coated surface of glue flap 6, the foldline 21 being then in register with fold line 6 and the second bottomwall panel 22 overlying the first bottom wall panel 8. Upon completionof the folding of the blank in the manner stated, the blank in itsfolded condition is maintained under appropriate pressure until theadhesive has set, thus completing the carrier in its folded conditionshown in Figure 2.

4 The folded carrier of Figure 2 may be set up for use by subjecting itto vertical pressure etfective for moving the top and the bottom wallpanels to horizontal position, with the side wall panels and the centerpartition panel disposed vertically, the carrier then appearing as shownin Figure 1. In the completed carrier the infolded securing tab 32provides, in conjunction with the upper portions of the handle flaps 14and 16, three thicknesses of material at the upper portion of the handlestructure, above the finger openings 30, and the third or inner handleflap end portions 26 provide, in conjunction with the handle flaps 14and 16, three thicknesses of material at the lower portion of the handlestructure, at each end of the finger opening therethrough. The loadsupporting flaps 31 extend from the handle structure downward along thecenter partition panel and are secured to the opposite faces thereofproviding, in conjunction with the corresponding areas of the centerpartition panel 24, three thicknesses of material. Accordingly, theupper portion of the carrier is of substantially uniform thickness,comprising three thicknesses of material, as is shown more clearly inFigures 4 and 5, which facilitates the gluing operation and is conduciveto high speed folding and gluing of the blanks to produce the carrierson a large Volume basis. The handle structure is of exceptional strengthand rigidity, particularly at the upper portion thereof above the fingeropening, and well able to support the load to which it is subjected. Theload supporting flaps 31, in conjunction with the center partition panel24, provide a structure of substantial strength well capable ofsupporting the load at the central area of the carrier.

As above mentioned, in the loaded carrier the retaining tabs 28 arefolded inwardly and engage the chimes of the end cans of the rows ofcans for retaining the latter in the carrier. The paperboard of whichthe carrier is formed usually is tough and difiicult to tear. In orderto facilitate release of the cans each of the top wall panels 12 and 18is provided with a series of cuts 35 extending from each outer corner ofthe opening 36 corresponding to the load supporting flap 31 to a pointadjacent the outer end of the fold line 29 of the correspondingretaining tab 28. The area of the top wall panel between the tear linesdefined by the cuts 35 comprises a tear out portion 37 which may readilybe torn from the top wall panel by grasping such portion at its inneredge, by inserting the fingers through the opening 36. The opening 36 isdisposed at the midarea of the inner portion of the top wall panel andconverges outwardly thereof, thereby avoiding any objectionableweakening of the panel area adjacent the respective retaining tabs 28which, in conjunction with the outwardly diverging tear lines providedby the cuts 35, facilitates release of the cans in the manner statedwhile assuring that the top wall panels are not objectionably weakenedand are of adequate strength for supporting the cans and retaining themwithin the carrier.

It will be understood that changes in detail may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the field and scope of my invention, and I intend toinclude all such variations, as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims, in this application in which the preferred form only of myinvention has been disclosed.

I claim:

1. In an open ended carrier for chimed end cans and comprising a bottomwall, two side wall panels, two top wall panels, two handle flapsextending upward from the inner edges of said top wall panels, and acenter partition panel extending upward from said bottom wall with itsupper portion secured between said handle flaps providing therewith athree ply handle structure; load supporting flaps cut from the innermidportions of said top wall panels integrally attached to the loweredges of said handle flaps and extending therefrom downward along andsecured to said partition panel, and can retaining tabs cut from saidtop wall panels adjacent the ends thereof and hinged thereto at theirinner edges along fold lines extending transversely of said top wallpanels, said load supporting flaps and the corresponding openings insaid top wall panels being of materially less extent lengthwise of saidtop wall panels than the distance between said fold lines of said tabs,said top wall panels, except for the openings therein corresponding tosaid load supporting flaps and said tabs, being substantiallyimperforate and effective for restraining cans in said carrier againstupward displacement therefrom, said top wall panels being respectivelyprovided with weakened tear lines extending from the ends of the loadsupporting flap opening to points adjacent the outer ends of the hingelines of said tabs and defining between them a tear out portion havingits inner edge exposed at said load supporting flap opening to bereadily grasped for tearing said portion from said top wall panel forready access to and removal of cans from said carrier.

2. In an open ended carrier for chimed end cans and comprising a bottomwall, two side wall panels, two top wall panels, two handle flapsextending upward from the inner edges of said top wall panels, and acenter partition panel extending upward from said bottom wall with itsupper portion secured between said handle flaps providing therewith athree ply handle structure; load supporting flaps cut from the innermidportions of said top wall panels integrally attached to the loweredges of said handle flaps and extending therefrom downward along andsecured to said partition panel at opposite sides thereof, and canretaining tabs cut from said top wall panels adjacent the ends thereofand hinged thereto at their inner edges along fold lines extendingtransversely of said top wall panels, said load supporting flaps and thecorresponding openings in said top wall panels being of materially lessextent lengthwise of said top wall panels than the distance between saidfold lines of said tabs, said top wall panels, except for the openingstherein corresponding to said load supporting flaps and said tabs, beingsubstantially imperforate and effective for restraining cans in saidcarrier against upward displacement therefrom, said top wall panelsbeing respectively provided with weakened tear lines extending from theends of the outer side of the load supporting flap opening to pointsadjacent the outer ends of the hinge lines of said tabs and definingbetween them an outwardly flaring tear out portion having its inner edgeexposed at said load supporting flap opening to be readily grasped fortearing said portion from said top wall panel for ready access to andremoval of cans from said carrier.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,337,197 Holy Dec. 21, 1943 2,435,178 Marshall Jan. 27, 1948 2,523,986Foster Sept. 26, 1950 2,614,737 Parker Oct. 21, 1952 2,754,047 SchmidtJuly 10, 1956 2,779,499 Chidsey Jan. 29, 1957 2,790,590 Toensmeier Apr.30, 1957 2,830,726 Foster Apr. 15, 1958

